NAMIBIA
Situated between the arid Kalahari and the vast South Atlantic, Namibia is one of the youngest countries on the African continent and, as such, enjoys vast potential to evolve into a highly acclaimed African holiday destination. Boasting an incredible amount of diverse cultures and national origins, the people of Namibia are a photographer’s dream - as are its myriad seascapes, awe-inspiring mountains, vast deserts, teeming wildlife, beautiful cities and heaps of elbow room.
With the world's oldest desert, highest sand dunes, and one of the most notorious coasts known to shippers (the 'Skeleton Coast'), Namibia is one of the world's newest independent republics. Previously known as South West Africa, Namibia was a German protectorate until the First World War, after which it was placed under the administration of South Africa. The German heritage is still very evident in the architecture and place names (e.g. Luderitz and Swakopmund) and in the dress of the Herrero tribe womenfolk, who still copy the dress of the German missionaries’ wives of the 19th Century.
The country’s largest industries includes the mining of diamonds, copper, uranium, tin, silver and other minerals, and these, plus the more traditional stock raising and fishing, underpin its burgeoning economy. At first Namibia can appear huge and empty. However, the largely desert-like landscape offers some stunning scenery, making it a perfect family holiday package. The Fish River Canyon in the south, Etosha National Park in the north and the Namib-Naukluft desert in the middle are the main points of interest.
Predominantly arid, Namibia is normally divided into four distinct topographical regions, namely the Namib Desert and coastal plains in the west, the Central Plateau that slopes to the east, the Kalahari that borders South Africa and Botswana respectively, as well as the dense bushveld that makes up the Kavango and Caprivi regions. Although is has a very harsh climate, Namibia holiday destinations include some of the largest national parks on the planet - including the Etosha National Park in the north-west that teems with wildlife, as well as the spectacular dune fields and desert plains that make up the Namib-Naukluft Park in the west.
Namibia statistics:
Capital: Windhoek
Population: 1.8m
Literacy: 38%
Life Expectancy: 60years
Per Capita Income: US$ 1 060.00
Currency: Namibian Dollar (N$)
